South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-08-05
DAWES SACRIFICE.

"Ye'll get it, Dave. Ye kin make
sure Of thct. Thar amt nobody round
hyar kin beat We ridin'."
Dave knows that thout We tellin'
him, Mandy. He amt no fool, m that
twenty-five dollars is comm ter him,
sure. seed him givin' Judy an extra
rundown this mownin', fore sun-up.
What We goin' ter do with the money,
Dave?"
wait till / get it," answered a tall.
athletic young fellow of about twenty
years of age, who stood in the doorway
of the little mountain cabin. IL amt
maxim no plans"
Eye jest say that, Dave, not likin' to
set yerself up none" said his sister, rak-
ing out the fire on the broad hearth, and
setting big black kettle of water i'm the
middle of the ashes "But I'm countin'
on that new dress, IN I'll look fo, it
when yo' uns comes up the mounting
this cvenin'."
Dave laughed and walked across the
little yard to the rough shed where judy
was stamping and paving impatiently.
She whinnied as her sharp ears caught
the sound other masters tread. and when
he opened the shed door and held out
his hand she came to him at once and
put her head on his shoulder, showing as
well ms she was able how deep was her
affection for him.
Dave patted her gently, his arm
around her neck. He had raised her
from colt, and always talked to her as
If she were capable of understanding
everything he said to her.
I'VE uns will show 'em some pretty
ridin' ter day, 1 reckon, Judy" he half
whispered, Il amt afeared none bout
gettin' tibet twenty-five dollars"
He put saddle and bride on the
mare and led her out. Her whinny of
delight on leaving the close shed. brought
Mandy and her husband to the cabin
door.
Eye goin' now, Dave7' asked his
brotherin-law.
Yes; | reckon / better be off. III
take 1t slow goin' down the mounting. +"
"Well, I'll be long fore the toona-
ment sets in. / reckon there'll be right
smart o a crowd ter Erwin"
Dave assented with nod. and rode
away, curbing with steady hand Judy's
desire to break into a wild gallop. He
wanted to save her strength for the con
test into which he was to enter that
afternoon, and nc felt as sure of the prize
as if it were already within his grasp.
The tournament was the bright idea of
young man from one of the Northern
cities who was spending several months
in the North Carolina mountains for the
benefit of his health, and who had wan
dcrcd 10y accident to Erwin, little ham
let at the foot Of the mountain range
miles from railroad, where the great
event Of each week was the mail on Sat
urday.
The houses are decrcpit frame build
ingS and rough log cabins. standing
around a wccdy square shaded 10y great
oaks, beneath which the dozen or more
COWS Of the place gathered ON warm DAYS
tn chew the cud and wait for milking
time, while lean lank, black hogs roamed
at will through the stony, hilly street
running around the square. There were
mo- pavcmrnts, nor even board walk.
and ON the low, sagging porch Of the
principal store. the men of the vilIape
regularly assembled every day, to smoke.
to tell long stories Of bear and wolf
hunts, and discus, the news in the weekly
paper. They seemed to young Howard
Hilton who was aIl spirit and energy
utterly without enterprise or ambition.
and ho resolved 10 wake them MP n little.
To this end hc proposed tournament.
Offering prize Of twenty-five dollars TO
The successful competitor; and was
pleased with the excitement which NJ
once took possession Of the whole vii
iagc
ON every side lac heard the name Of
young Dave Fielder, and IL seemed 20 he
conceded that he would bc the one 10
carry of the prize. The only horse that
could compare with Judy in speed and
bc relied upon not Co swerve in astraight
course, was q Zig black animal belong
ing 10 sam Brcon, on old man who had
been famous hunter in his day, but had
recently been famed by a severe fall.
Riding was ont Of the question for him.
and ho had never allowed anyone else to
mount Black Eagle But there were
six besides Dave who had entered their
names as competitors, and among them
was Rob Hartley, who lived with his
old mother way up on the mountain side,